A company director was being questioned by police last night in connection with the death of a suspected intruder stabbed to death at his home.

Logistics expert Vincent Cooke (39), was alone on Saturday evening when two men broke into his detached house in Stockport and threatened him. Police said his wife Karen and son (12) returned home during the altercation but escaped unharmed.

A man in his 30s suffering from serious knife injuries was treated by paramedics but died. A second man fled the scene.

A man (33) was later arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary.

Chief Superintendent Tim Forber of Greater Manchester Police said: "Clearly this is a serious incident in which a man has lost his life and at this time we believe the dead man was one of two men who were attempting to carry out a burglary at the house."

It is the third incident in Greater Manchester in four months in which someone has been arrested after apparently killing an intruder. In the previous cases the charges were dropped.